In the year
563 B.C. a baby was born into a royal family in northern India. He grew
up in wealth and luxury but eventually found that worldly comforts and security
do not guarantee happiness. He was deeply moved by the suffering he saw
all around and resolved to find the key to human happiness. When he was
29 he left his wife and child and set off to sit at the feet of the great
religious teachers of the day to learn from them. They taught him much but
none really knew the cause of human suffering and how it could be overcome.
Eventually, after six years study and meditation he had an experience in
which all ignorance fell away and he suddenly understood.

From that day
onwards, he was called the Buddha, the Awakened One. He lived for another
45 years in which time he travelled all over the northern India teaching
others what he had discovered. His compassion and patience were legendary
and he had thousands of followers. In his eightieth year, old and sick,
but still happy and at peace, he finally died.